emergence of nepalese diaspora in the usa
TRANSCRIPT
A Comparative Study on Emergence of Nepalese Diaspora in the USA
March 19, 2011
Desh Raj SonyokPh.D. Student
Department of Civil Engineering
New Mexico State University
Email: [email protected]
Outline
Definition
Global Warriors to Global Workers
Nepalese in the World
Nepalese Diaspora in the USA
Diaspora Capital
Fear of Disconnection
Brain Drain to Brain Gain and Diaspora
Engagement
Conclusions
Definition: Nepalese Diaspora
What is Diaspora?
... the movement, migration, or scattering of a people
away from an established or ancestral homeland
DIASPORA (Capitalized): the settling of scattered
colonies of Jews outside Palestine after the Babylonian
exile
Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary
Nepalese Diaspora Type?
Nepali or Nepalese Diaspora?
- Nepali vs English Noun
Diaspora Type:
1. Persons of Nepali Origin (PNO): can trace their
roots to Nepal but who have taken citizenship in the
other country
2. Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN): are the ones who
maintain their Nepali citizenship but live abroad for
various lengths of time
Source: Nepal Migration Year Book 2009
Global Warriors to Global Workers
Lahure?
Defeated soldier in 1816 the war with British East India
Company joined Punjab Army of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh in
Lahore
First Wave: early 19th Century, settlement eastward
across Nepal, then into Sikkim and Bhutan
Second Wave: recruitment in British soldier beginning
around 1815 and resettlement after retirement in the British
Isles and southeast Asia, e.g Myanmar
Third Wave (Exodus): 1970s, Job-related emigration
to India, Middle East, Europe, and North America
Third Wave
Pre-Civil War (1996)
Exodus During Civil War (1996 to 2006)
Post Civil War
Nepalese International Labor Migration
Data Source: Economic Survey 2010
ILO, Kathmandu 2004
-100
100
300
500
700
900
1100
1300
1500
To
tal
Nu
mb
er
(x1000)
Years
Nepalese in the World
Web source http://www.nrn.org.np/pdf/nrna_intro.pdf
Size of Nepalese Diaspora
Nepalese Community Population (approx.) Gov. Census
Australia 10,000
Bhutan 110,000
Canada 6,000 3,505*
China 21,000
Continental Europe 20,000
Hong Kong 35,000 12,564**
India 4,100,000
Japan 100,000
Myanmar 400,000
Malaysia 300,000
Nepal 30,000,000 23,151,423***
Qatar 100,000
Saudi Arabia 350,000
UAE 50,000
UK 50,000
USA 110,616 11,715****
Total (approx.) 35,762,000
Web Source: http://nepalicount.com
Nepalese Diaspora in the USA
In 1960 diplomatic relations with the USA
In 1995: only 55 Nepalese became the US and 312
received permanent-resident residence
181 Nepalese student entered the USA in
1996/97
During Civil War in Nepal: Influx of students,
professionals, political asylum, illegal immigrants
Increased number of DV lottery recipients
Bhutanese refugee: US offered 60,000 Bhutanese
resettlement; 21,920 arrived by October 2010
Nepalese Resident Diaspora in the USA
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
8 000
9 000
Before 1980 1980 to 1989 1990 to 2000
Po
pu
lati
on
Years
Naturalized U.S. citizen
Non U.S. citizen
Data Source: US Census Bureau 2000
Permanent Residence by DV Program
Data Source: http://travel.state.gov
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
To
tal
Nu
mb
er
Years
21,080 Nepalese have received DV lottery from 1998 to 2010
Student Enrollment Trend of Nepalese
in the USA
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
19
95
/96
19
96
/97
19
97
/98
19
98
/99
19
99
/00
20
00
/01
20
01
/02
20
02
/03
20
03
/04
20
04
/05
20
05
/06
20
06
/07
2007/0
8
20
08
/09
20
09
/10
%
sh
are
on
to
tal
fore
ign
stu
den
ts i
n t
he
US
To
tal
nu
mb
er
fo s
tud
en
ts
Number
Percentage
• 11th rank in the USA
• One Nepalese in every 59 international students
• Six fold increase
Data Source: Institute of International Education
Nepalese Student by Academic Label
64%
26%
1%9%
Under-graduate
Graduate
Non-Degree
OPT
Data Source: Institute of International Education
Ranking of Nepalese Student
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Ch
ina
Ind
ia
So
uth
Ko
rea
Can
ad
a
Taiw
an
Ja
pa
n
Sau
di A
rab
ia
Mexic
o
Vie
tnam
Tu
rkey
Nep
al
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Perc
en
tag
e S
hare
Rank by Country
Data Source: Institute of International Education
International Student in Term of Total
Population of Their Country in the USA
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16S
ou
th K
ore
a
Taiw
an
Can
ad
a
Sau
di A
rab
ia
Ne
pal
Jap
an
Tu
rkey
Vie
tnam
Un
ited
Kin
gd
om
Th
aila
nd
Mexic
o
Germ
an
y
Ch
ina
Ind
ia
Bra
zil
Data Source: Institute of International Education
Percentage of Literate Population of
Their Country in the USA
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16S
ou
th K
ore
a
Taiw
an
Nep
al
Can
ad
a
Sau
di A
rab
ia
Jap
an
Tu
rkey
Vie
tnam
Ind
ia
Un
ited
Kin
gd
om
Th
ailan
d
Mexic
o
Germ
an
y
Ch
ina
Bra
zil
Data Source: Institute of International Education
Percentage Returning Nepalese
Students
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Perc
en
tag
e o
f re
turn
ing
stu
den
ts
Data Source: Institute of International Education
Diaspora Capital
Capitals:
Social, Financial, and Intellectual
Intellectual: skilled diaspora are potential asset
Financial Strength: 110,616 x $49,777 = $ 5.5 billion
Total annual income is more than total annual
expenditure of Nepal ($4.6 billion, FY 2010/11)
Social:
Network between social/professional organization
Work ethics, social and cultural transformations –
NRNA, NAC, ANA, other professional organizations
Fear of Disconnection
Lack of communication for long term, e.g.
Nepalese Diaspora in Myanmar
Lack of recognition/opportunity in homeland
Stronger links between diasporas themselves
may gradually detach from homeland
Motivation to succeed in the hostland than to
maintain contacts with their country of origin
Brain Drain to Brain Gain
Brain Drain: migration of technically skilled human
resource from one country to another
Brain Gain:
Host country where skilled workers are migrated is
called brain gaining country
Homeland having access to knowledge and expertise of
diaspora
Brain Circulation:
Temporary visits
Example: Taiwan, Greater China and India, countries
have profited enormously from brain circulation
Diaspora Engagement in the
Development Process of Nepal
Sense of belonging, desire of connection and help
“Green pasture” paradigm
Building Diaspora Knowledge Network (DKN)
Digital Diaspora Network (DDN): Promoting “brain gain”
through the use of new ICT
Brain Circulation Network through volunteer
services, exchange programs, research grants, and
collaboration
Confidence building and mobilization of capital:
business venture and investment opportunities in
hydropower, IT, transportation, tourism, education, health etc
Conclusions
Strong Nepalese Diaspora emerged in the USA during
the past decade
Unprecedented increase in the Diaspora size is found
during the civil war and the increasing trend is still
continue
Diaspora capitals have huge potential for contributing
to the development of Nepal
Nepal can benefit from brain gain and brain circulation
through Diaspora Knowledge Network
Environment for business venture and capital
investment can be created by building confidence
among diasporas
Thank You
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Prospects.” Youth Action Nepal (YOAC)
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Central Bureau of Statistics, Government of Nepal. www.cbs.gov.np
Diaspora. Web Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora#Asian_diaspora
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Gueron, J. and Spevacek,, A. (2008). “Diaspora Development Nexus: The Role of ICT.” USAID
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